'Make use of tech to reach global tourism market'

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy urged entrepreneurs and start-ups in the travel and tourism sector to take advantage of digital technology to access opportunities in the international market. Inaugurating India's first international conference on travel technology at Kovalam, he said India had to travel a long way to realise its full potential in the field of tourism.

However, he said, with the arrival of qualified professionals coupled with technology, it was now possible to provide newer platforms to market products and services in tourism. Union HRD minister Shashi Tharoor said one of the most important uses of the web for tourism business was review and response to customer feedback. The three-day conference was organised by the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India and Kerala Tourism.